Nursing-garment.



Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed July 7,1905. Serial No. 268.668.

To all ZUII/O'IIZ/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAMDIN BAILIE, Jr., of Norfolk, county ofNorfolk, and State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Nursing-Garments, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to garments for nursing-women, which garments areprovided with openings for exposing the breasts when the infant is to besuckled and are formed with means for covering or closing the openingswhen the infant is removed, the design being that there shall be aslittle exposure of the person as possible when the infant is applied tothe breast.

My invention consists of improvements in garments of this character,which improve ments are directed to the form and arrangement of theeoveringsor flaps for the openings, the means for securing them inclosed position, and to other features of construction, which will befully described in the specification and the novel parts pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my improvedgarment on the person of the wearer with one of the covering-fiapsclosed and the other flap open. Fig. 2.is a front elevation with theflaps closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the flaps opened. Fig. 4. isa horizontal section through the garment, showing the flaps in closedposition. Fig. 5 'is a similar view showing the flaps opened.

In the annexed drawings I have illustrated my invention as embodied in aknit undershirt, but it is manifest that the invention is applicable aswell to undergarments of other formation which are usually worn next thebody.

In carrying my invention into effect I form in the front of the garmentat points over the breasts of the wearer vertical slits or openings A A,of a length which while permitting of a suflicient protrusion of thebreasts to admit of the infant being properly suckled will prevent theperson from being unduly exposed. To the outer edge of each slit isconnected the straight-edge b of a semicircular covering-flap B, theedges of said flaps being extended downward, as at l) b, a considerabledistance below the lower ends of the slits and being fastened alongtheir extended edges to the front of the garment.

When in closed position, the flaps extend over and cover the respectiveslits and inward toward each other and are adapted to be fastenedtogether conveniently by means of ribbons or strings G 0, attached tothe edges of the flaps, and adapted to be tied to gether, as shown inFig. 2, or, if desired, one of the flaps may be provided with abottonhole to receive a button 011 the other flap.

When the breasts are to be exposed, the flaps are disconnected andthrown back to the position in Figs. 1 and 3.

The extension of the flaps below the lower ends of the slits is of greatimportance and advantage in that the extended portion of the flap willeffectually cover the lower portion of the slit, notwithstanding thefact that the slit may gape or be widely opened, so that an effectualprotection. against exposure is afforded. Furthermore, there will bemore material in the flaps than if they terminated at the lower ends ofthe slits, which increased material will enable the flaps to properlyconform to the bust without discomfort to the wearer or danger ofexposure.

It is manifest that changes in details as to the form of the flaps,their arrangement with reference to the slits, and the manner ofsecuring them in closed position may be adopted Without departing fromthe limits of my invention, the essence of which resides in extendingthe flap beyond the end of the slit and in providing means for fasteningthe flaps together when in closed position.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. A nursing garment provided with breast-openings, in combination withcovering-flaps for said openings, and means independent of the garmentfor fastening said flaps together when in closed position.

2. A nursing-garment provided in its bust portion with vertical slits,in combination with covering-flaps secured to the outer edges of saidslits and adapted to extend inward toward each other over the slits, andmeans independent of the garment for fastening said flaps together toretain them in closed position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of June,1905, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

WILLIAM LAMDIN BAILIE, JR.

Witnesses:

G. W. SIMPSON, W. A. TOWNSEND.

